Bird species migration ratio in East Asia, Australia, and surrounding islands
Journal
Naturwissenschaften
Journal Volume
100
Journal Issue
8
Pages
729-738
ISSN
0028-1042
1432-1904
Date Issued
2013-06-22
Author(s)
Abstract
Bird migration and its relationship with the contemporary environment have attracted long-term discussion. We calculated the avian migration ratio (the proportion of breeding species that migrate) in the areas from 70 E to 180 E and examined its relationship with the annual ranges of ambient temperature, primary productivity (estimated by the Enhanced Vegetation Index), and precipitation, along with island isolation and elevational range. The avian migration ratio increased with increasing latitude in general but varied greatly between the two hemispheres. Additionally, it showed minimal differences between continents and islands. Our analyses revealed that the seasonality of ambient temperature, which represents the energy expenditure of birds, is the dominant factor in determining bird species migration. Seasonality in primary productivity and other environmental factors play an indirect or limited role in bird species migration. The lower avian migration ratio in the Southern Hemisphere can be attributed to its paleogeographical isolation, stable paleoclimate, and warm contemporary environment. Under current trends of global warming, our findings should lead to further studies of the impact of warming on bird migration. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
Subjects
Bird migration percentage
Environmental seasonality
Global climate change
Latitudinal gradient
Long-distance migration
Macroecology
SDGs
Other Subjects
avifauna; bird; environmental factor; global climate; global warming; island; latitudinal gradient; macroecology; migration; phenology; primary production; seasonality; Southern Hemisphere; animal; article; Australia; bird; Far East; island (geological); physiology; population migration; season; sexual behavior; statistical model; Animal Migration; Animals; Australia; Birds; Far East; Islands; Linear Models; Seasons; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Australia; Far East; Aves
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Type
journal article